Frank has been doing more market research/product development for Apple.
Apple has built an interesting product line, where you can (or have to) choose between the consumer models — the iMacs and iBooks — and the pro lines — PowerMacs and PowerBooks. Why not extend that model to the Xserve, introducing a consumer-oriented iServe?
[ . . . . ]
Such a product would bring the server to the consumer market, and could naturally be the mail server, backup server, firewall, file and print server, and web and domain server for a household.
This is an interesting concept and one I think Apple can pull off, through a combination of a household friendly form factor (cooler running PowerPCs are quieter and can fit into places where boxes with fans can’t) and a well-designed UI to manage all the services. They could easily use webmin as a basis for most of that and it would be a great showcase for Rendezvous and slp.
I think iServe is a great idea: rather than TiVO capability, I’d rather see Internet radio/satellite radio capability. The built-in video displays some of the crazy modders have added would be a requirement as well.
I think it would need to possibly include an Airport base station’s functionality with wireless and two network interfaces: ideally, you want it to replace an existing system that isn’t as useful or fill a need for multiple devices with this one.
Form factors? How about a wall-mount to be near the DSL or cable connection? Something the height of a hardcover book (remember the old IIci/cx machines?) to fit on a shelf would also work.
And since it would be a server with minimal graphics/UI needs, it wouldn’t have to be the fastest box: my gateway/webserver/print server is the slowest I have at 233 MHz. But lots o’ disk and a combo drive would be essential.
Think they can get it out by Christmas?